Your Garden – Jude Costello
IT’S TIME to get out in the garden and be positive.
All the leaves have been washed clean from dust and some overdue moisture has sparked everything up, what a difference this can make to our mental outlook.
A good clean and polish of your secateurs and off you go with the wheelbarrow. Prune dead and scrappy annuals, it’s time for them to go into the compost bin, dead head old flower heads from the perennials and tidy up your roses and shrubs.
If you are keeping any seed you may still have time but make sure it is dry before you store it.
I am sure seed will be an important part of restoring many gardens after this long droughty summer. Makes sure any dead growth is removed as it can lead to disease later on.
Hopefully everyone has had some rain, not nearly enough yet and follow up will be essential. I am amazed how the paddocks were trying to green up over night, nature is very resilient.
The forecast is promising for this week… fingers’ crossed.
Being mid February we have a very short window of opportunity for pastures to grow and give our farmers and livestock a chance of a break and a better winter prospect.
Shade and shelter are vital to good gardening, do you need more to protect you and your garden from the extremes, both in summer and winter?
Microclimates make an incredible difference particularly in tough times. Solid fences can be very useful and are instant, espaliering trees and shrubs or training climbers will soften the look very effectively.
I have mentioned before how impressed I am with garden fencing in Armidale, so many different styles, they not only look great but give security and privacy.
Finally, don’t forget to dead head (prune) and fertilise roses and you will be rewarded with beautiful autumn blooms lasting into winter.
